A severe technical malfunction in IndiGo airline's operating system has plunged air travel from Chandigarh into chaos for five consecutive days, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and frustrated. The crisis prompted a high-level emergency review meeting at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport in Mohali on Sunday to address the mounting passenger grievances.
High-Level Meeting Directs Immediate Passenger Relief
Chaired by Sonali Giri, the Civil Aviation Secretary of the Punjab government, the crucial meeting saw participation from senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Airport Authority of India (AAI), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Air India, Air India Express, and Chandigarh International Airport Limited (CHIAL).
The discussions focused on critical pain points for affected travellers: ensuring timely refunds, urgent flight rescheduling, and swift baggage delivery. Secretary Giri issued strict directives to airline and airport authorities to provide all possible assistance. She specifically ordered IndiGo to arrange for doorstep delivery of all pending baggage at the airline's own expense, ensuring passengers are not further inconvenienced.
24x7 Control Room Activated Amid Ongoing Disruptions
In a swift response post-meeting, airport authorities have activated a 24-hour control room operating from the Duty Terminal Manager's office. This dedicated facility aims to provide real-time assistance and updates to passengers grappling with the situation.
The control room's mandate includes handling flight status updates, processing refund and rescheduling requests, and facilitating baggage tracing and home delivery support. A special team is now continuously monitoring flight operations, cancellations, delays, and baggage-related complaints to ensure quick resolution.
The disruption entered its fifth day on Sunday, with six more IndiGo flights cancelled—two arrivals and four departures. One flight landed approximately 20 minutes late. The total number of cancellations due to the system failure has now reached a staggering 52 flights. Interestingly, the number of Sunday cancellations was slightly lower as the runway was closed from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM for its monthly scheduled maintenance.
Travel Chaos Triggers Airfare Surge and Railway Rush
The crisis has had a domino effect on the entire travel ecosystem from Chandigarh. Despite clear advisories from the civil aviation ministry against unfair pricing, airfares on other airlines have skyrocketed. Passengers desperate to travel have been forced to pay exorbitant prices.
Current approximate fares recorded include:
- Air India Express for Chandigarh to Bangalore: Rs 19,825
- Air India for Chandigarh to Delhi: Rs 8,217
- Air India for Chandigarh to Mumbai: Rs 16,686
With flights remaining uncertain, a massive shift to rail travel has been observed, putting immense pressure on train services from Chandigarh. Indian Railways added an extra coach to the Shatabdi Express to accommodate the surge, but waiting lists have grown exponentially.
Two Vande Bharat Express and three Shatabdi Express trains operating between Chandigarh and Delhi are completely full. The impact is palpable at Chandigarh Railway Station, which is reporting long queues and unprecedented crowds.
Authorities have stated that close coordination between aviation and railway officials is now underway. The primary goal is to ensure passengers face minimal hardship while efforts to restore normal flight operations continue at full pace.
